Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Rhode Island First State to Join ConnectHome Nation

RIHousing, in partnership with the RI Office
of Innovation, was selected as one of 30 communities participating in the
ConnectHome Nation initiative, which aims to end the digital divide in public housing
across the United States.

Rhode Island is the
first state to join the initiative.

“ConnectHome and now ConnectHome Nation is a
first of its kind, public private partnership that is committed to ending the
digital divide in public housing across the United States,” said Chike Aguh,
chief executive officer of EveryoneOn, the national nonprofit implementing
ConnectHome Nation. “We are so excited to welcome Rhode Island to this new
cohort of communities who are committed to changing the life trajectory of some
of the most in need in our country.”

In May 2017, EveryoneOn announced the
expansion of the ConnectHome pilot initiative, which launched in 2015 in
conjunction with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and
was created to bridge the digital divide in 28 pilot communities. Rebranded ConnectHome
Nation, the goal of the initiative is to expand to 100 communities and connect
350,000 people living in HUD-assisted housing by 2020.